NEW The Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration (MWIFA) gives notice of a public comment period concerning Revision 6 to its Integrated Project Priority System (IPPS) for Water Quality Capital Projects, Revision 3 to its IPPS for Drinking Water Capital Projects, and modifications to its Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Criteria for Water Quality and Drinking Water Capital Projects. The proposed revisions can be compared to the current versions posted on this page under the heading “Associated Documents.” Please see the hyperlinked documents and summary of proposed changes below:
1. Addition of scoring criteria for wetland restoration, creation, and rehabilitation projects.
2. Addition of scoring criteria for upland forest planting projects.
3. Addition of scoring criteria for projects that mitigate Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) above the EPA recommended Microcystin WQ criteria of 8 ug/l.
4. Addition of scoring criteria for projects that mitigate human exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in the environment (other than drinking water).
5. Replacement of the Environmental Benefits District scoring criteria with a criteria based on MDE’s Environmental Justice Tracking Tool.
1. Addition of scoring criteria for projects that reduce exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or emerging contaminants (ECs).
2. Addition of scoring criteria for projects to conduct service line inventories and projects to replace lead service lines.
3. Replacement of the Environmental Benefits District scoring criteria with a criteria based on MDE’s Environmental Justice Tracking Tool.
4. Total possible points have increased from 200 to 210.
1. Addition of poverty level as a DAC criteria at 110% of statewide poverty rate.
2. Increase Median Household Income (MHI) DAC cutoff from 70% to 80% of statewide MHI.
3. Add unemployment data for all jurisdictions and set as a DAC criteria at 120% of state unemployment rate.
4. Add population trend data for all jurisdictions and set as a DAC criteria at less than -1.2%.
5. Require at least 2 of 4 criteria (#1-4 above) to qualify as a DAC.
6. Replacement of Environmental Benefits District DAC criteria with a criteria based on MDE’s Environmental Justice Tracking Tool.
It is MWIFA's intent to use the revised versions, once finalized, to score applications received during the December 2022 thru January 2023 solicitation, as well as assign loan forgiveness and/or State grant to eligible DAC communities.
A 30-day public comment period begins on November 21, 2022 and will close at midnight on December 20, 2022. Comments and questions may be submitted via e-mail to mde.wqfa_announcement@maryland.gov. All comments received will be included in a responsiveness summary.
Purpose and Mission
The mission of the Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration (MWIFA) is to provide state and federal financial assistance in the form of low interest rate loans, loan forgiveness, and grant funding for eligible water quality, drinking water, and stormwater management capital projects.
Eligible types of projects include:
- Sanitary Sewer and Wastewater Treatment
- Drinking Water Infrastructure and Source Water Protection
- Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watershed Restoration
- Septic System Upgrades and Sewer Connections
- Stormwater Management and Flood Mitigation
MWIFA administers the loan and grant programs described below:
Financial Program |
Purpose |
|---|
Water Quality Revolving Loan Program (WQRLF) |
Provides low-interest loans to local governments to finance wastewater treatment plant upgrades, nonpoint source pollution control projects, and other water quality and public health improvement projects. |
Drinking Water Revolving Loan Program (DWRLF) |
Provides low-interest loans to local governments to finance water supply improvements and drinking water infrastructure upgrades. |
Water Supply Assistance Grant Program |
Helps communities meet their water supply and infrastructure needs. |
Bay Restoration Fund - Wastewater Grant Program |
- ENR upgrade at major or minor wastewater treatment plants.
- Improvements to existing wastewater conveyance systems.
- Sewer extensions to connect homes on septic systems to a BNR/ENR wastewater treatment plant.
- Nutrient-reducing BAT shared community septic systems.
- Stormwater (MS4) projects by local governments with a system of charges through a local stormwater or resilience enterprise fund.
- Flood mitigation and resilience and watershed restoration projects.
|
Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program
|
Upgrades of existing septic systems to best available technology and sewer connections for nitrogen reduction to aquifers and the Bay. |
Linked Deposit Program |
Credit support for private nonpoint source pollution control, watershed protection, and drinking water supply and infrastructure projects. |
Both loan programs receive federal funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and offer below market interest rate state and federal loans to eligible borrowers.
MWIFA is authorized to issue revenue bonds subject to approval of the State Board of Public Works and Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment. Bonds issued by MWIFA do not constitute a debt or the full faith and credit pledge of the State or any political subdivision. The bonds are paid solely from MWIFA revenues as pledged under bond indenture for each of the above Funds.
MWIFA works very closely with MDE’s Engineering and Capital Projects Program (ECPP), which is the entity responsible for management of water quality, drinking water, and stormwater and flood mitigation capital projects to protect public health and water quality.
Reports:
Federal FY2022/State FY2024 Funding Documents
Final FFY2022/State FY2024 Clean Water Project Priority List
Final FFY2022/State FY2024 Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund Intended Use Plan Table 1
Final FFY2022/State FY2024 Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund Intended Use Plan Document
Federal FY2020/State FY2022 Funding Documents
Final FFY2020/State FY2022 Clean Water Project Priority List
For Septic Grants:
Associated Documents:
Maryland Forest Financing Implementation Tool (FFIT):
The Maryland Forest Financing Implementation Tool (FFIT), is a calculator designed to assist local governments, land trusts, and other watershed partners in planning and underwriting forestry efforts for water quality benefits. The video shows how FFIT can be used to review different implementation scenarios, evaluate how much a forestry project would cost, estimate how many MS4 credits and environmental co-benefits can be achieved. The slides in the video and a user guide are also below.
MDE initially produced the FITT calculator and then updated it in 2022. Since the tool has changed, MDE would like to give users the benefit of seeing the previous demonstrations, therefore older versions of the training webinar are posted below. Please use the NEWER Version 2 for planning purposes.
For additional information, please contact (410) 537-3119
